Day 02 - Laodicea, Colossae and Hierapolis

The morning started with a Mediterranean breakfast buffet before boarding the bus for Laodicea, Colossae and Hierapolis. We were told Laodicea covers about 120 acres and only 5% has been excavated. The excavation began 15 years ago. Despite only 5% excavated, there is still a lot to be seen. Most of Laodicea is buried under 15 feet of dirt. One of the sites seen was what they assume to be a house church. There are 2 theaters, which is unusual. The buildings are not just ornate, but some walls were painted and the original paint still adorns part of one wall. 

Excavation has just begun on Colossae with very little of consequence revealed. Part of Colossae is thought to be under a tel which is a large, unexcavated mound or hill. 

Hierapolis was built by King Eumenes 1 and dedicated to his wife. People would come from all over for healing like they did Asklepion where we visited yesterday. A wall rings the city and a very large theater has been reconstructed. The theater was influential during this time like social media is now to us. Tombs are visible outside the city wall. They have found 20,000 graves and guess that there may be as many as 30,000 - a possible result of people pilgrimaging for health reasons. The apostle Philip is believed to have been martyred here as he was going against the pagan culture at the time. 

Two takeaways - in Laodicea they found a house church, how are we using our resources and hospitality to share Jesus with those around us? In Hierapolis, Philip didn’t just die for Christ, he lived for Christ. How are we doing this in our life?